Tips for dealing with morning anxiety please

[Mojo61]

Hi guys,

Mornings are absolutely the worst time of the day for me. I can't believe that I can go to bed at 11pm feeling basically normal, and then wake up 6 hours later feeling like I've been turned inside out. For a few seconds after I wake everything is good, and then I "remember" the anxiety and it washes over me like a wave. I feel awful, churning stomach, sweating, shaking, racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, you name it..... I just have to lie there and suck it up, yet I can't find the motivation to get up and do something. I often lay there suffering in bed until 10 or 11am - perhaps in an attempt to kill some hours so that I don't have so long to wait until my evening reprieve. I absolutely dread the mornings and I desperately want to get back to how I was before all this started last year when I would wake up about 7am after a lovely refreshing night's sleep and really look forward to the day ahead. What the hell has happened to me?

Any tips on dealing with this please? Should I "force" myself to get up and do something, would that help?

[Holds1325]

I used to feel the exact same way. Evening time I'd be completely fine and mornings I'd feel like a wreck. Perhaps it was just my brains way of getting used to the anxiety and come evening It would figure it out, however it felt like the movie Groundhog day where the anxiety just repeated itself brand new each morning.

Tell me, do you have any hobbies? do you work? Anything you like doing or would like to do?

[Mojo61]

No, I have lost all interest in my hobbies and don't have any interest in socialising. Anxiety destroyed it all.

---------- Post added at 21:14 ---------- Previous post was at 21:13 ----------

You say you used to feel like it, are you better now and how did you get rid of it?

[Buster70]

Hi , I'm back to waking up going though all the crap anxiety throws at you , wake up few seconds reprieve then feel like I've been plugged into the mains and it dawns on me all the stuff that is going on in my life is real , I can't lie in bed it makes me worse if I'm bad I get up get in the shower wash some of the adrenalin off , get a bit of something to eat and drink , I've always got out before 9 to walk my dogs I lost one last week so it's not been so easy but I still go out and just take a short walk , it's a horrible way to live wishing the day away I used to do that every day , it's gotten better for me in the past and I hope it will again and for you , take care

[Holds1325]

What did you enjoy before the anxiety destroyed it? There must've been something.

To answer your question, yes I did get over it, with time and work and some support. I didn't do therapy or meds though.

Mostly just sucking it up, breathing it all in and moving on to my next task of the day whether it was actual work or leisure. Sometimes something simple like sitting down and relaxing was so hard to do but nope I was training my brain, training it that its okay, I'm okay, this situation is SAFE and I am here and fine.

Listing things you're grateful for everyday, even if its not alot, is good to get your mind centered, to get your mind away from your worry. Many times I'd be sitting in a room not talking at all, but was I on earth? nope! I was far off in my anxiety what if what if what if.

It does get better though, just reach out, even if its just here to talk. Sometimes you just need someone to talk you down from the cliff of anxiety you're standing on. Sometimes you just need someone to say it'll be OK.

This is exactly why I came on here,because sometimes people just need to hear that they'll be fine and it'll get better so,

You'll be okay and I have no doubts it'll get better :)

[Shazamataz]

I completely relate to this and it's nasty!

I seem to have had some reprieve the last couple of mornings though, long may it continue!

Over the past months of my anxiety hell I have established that staying in bed or on the sofa or wherever is the WORST thing to do. Laying around really lets the anxiety get a hold on you and I've spent many a day unable to leave the house.

I have two dogs that need walked so that's my motivation. I'm not working at the moment but I don't get a day off from them so they have been a blessing at getting me up and moving.

Get up, get moving, find something to do, even some housework or something to burn off some of that adrenaline.

It WILL get better!

[Beckybecks]

This morning thing is very common amongst anxiety and depression sufferers. From what I understand it can be something to do with the two hormones called adrenaline and cortisol and which become unbalanced early in the morning but seem to be settled in the evening.
From experience I have discovered that lying in bed makes it worse. I try to get busy even if it takes a huge effort. Going for a walk helps.

[Lisah34]

Luckly the most i get is heart palps in the morning but i find if i go to bed thinking of anything ill wake up anxious, go to bed with a clear head i wake uo fine.

[Mugs]

Hi
I suffer with this also and have been for 2 years. I have tried several meds and therapy with no good results.
I'm worn right out, and my family have had enough too.
I don't know what to do next.
My life is slipping away, please help.

[Manilow]

I have this same feeling in the morning I don't know how to deal with it either and thought I was the only person that had it I have just joined nomorepanic and would love some advice this feeling is horrid and just want to be able to control it instead of it controlling me

[Beckybecks]

Just to give you some reassurance; this condition doesn't last forever.
Once you have your anxiety under control, the hormones that cause this early morning anxiety will rebalance themselves and the early morning anxiety will disappear.

A few months ago I was waking in the early hours with extreme panic. I've experienced it before and knew what it was but it still wasn't pleasant. I had to get up early and go for long walks until the panic eased.

I've since got my anxiety under control with the help of CBT exercises and finally I can wake up in the morning feeling normal.